Victorious by Obedient Faith : More than Conquerors

In the first two stories about Paul’s letter to the Romans you heard that…

Every single one of us has a big problem — sin and death. No one is good, not even one of us.

But God gave a solution — a Faith Solution. While we were still filthy sinners, God sent His baby boy, Jesus, to die in our place. For anyone who will hand over control of their life to Jesus and be baptized, Jesus will pay our sin debt and wash away all our sins.

But God does not want us to just keep on sinning so “grace can do its work.” No, it’s God’s grace, His undeserved kindness, that makes us WANT to change and say goodbye to all our sin and self-life. So we’re meant to become more and more like Him in Character, in who we are. But our flesh will put up a fight, so we prepare for war.

But, Paul continued on to talk about how we should not let the war scare us like, “I don’t know how to walk in the Spirit to put a stop to my sinful flesh.” Nah! There is a plan. There was always a plan. Those who fully surrender to Him in Faith are not losing this fight. God is going to Deliver them all the way to a Victorious Glory-Life.

Paul said,

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit God gave you doesn’t make you slaves living in fear. No, the Spirit brought you adoption and sonship that cries from the heart, ‘Daddy.’

“His Spirit makes clear to our spirit that we’re His children. And if we are His children, then we get Daddy’s inheritance, right along with Christ. If we share in His hurts, then we’ll share in His Glory.

“And you know what, our current hurting is nothing compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.

“All of creation stands on tiptoe… excitedly waiting for the day when the Children of God will be shown for who they really are.

“God let this whole world be filled with problems and pain, in the hope that it will come into the Glory-filled freedom of God’s children.

“Even the earth itself is groaning and hurting while it waits. And we also groan inside as we eagerly wait for our flesh bodies to be made new.

“We know that all things that happen in life — good or bad, happy or sad, easy or hard — ALL things God will orchestrate like a symphony to be Good for those who love God and are called to be part of His Big Plan. Those He set apart, He will mold and shape into the expression of His Son.

“His Son is just the first of many. Those He set apart, He also called out of the world. Those He called out of the world, He also washed and made Right. And those He made Right He also gave Glory!

“So what should we say about all these groanings and troubles and sufferings? If God is on our side, who even has a chance against us? Nobody!

“Think about it! God did not hold back even His own baby boy, but gave Him up to die for us all. So won’t He give us all things we could ever need? Of course He will. Who can accuse us of being weak? No one. It is God who makes us Right! Who can slow us down with scary threats? No one! The Anointed Jesus who died — and who Lives again! — is at God’s right hand praying for us.

“Who can separate us from our Shining Rescuer’s love? No one!

“Will troubles and hardships or enemies attacking or no food or no clothes or dangers or dying separate us from that Love? No!

“In every hard thing that comes our way, we are more than Victorious winners through Jesus who loved us.

“No one can change my mind about this. Not death or life, not angels or demons, not things happening now or things that will happen, nor any system or powers, not the highest happiness or the deepest sadness. Nothing in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD will be able to break us apart from the love of God that is through our dear Jesus.”

Paul goes on to talk to them about how whether Jew or Gentile if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, and, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

But then Paul tells them something very important in this process of becoming more Like Jesus. He said,

“So I urge you, Family, with your eyes open to God’s mercy… offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and appropriate worship.

“Don’t let the world shape who you are, but be dramatically changed by continually taking on Christ’s thoughts.”

Think about it…

Do you remember how people in the Old Deal of Rules would sacrifice, or give up something as a gift or a way to worship God?

Well, God still wants sacrifice from us… but not dead animals. Now we offer our made-alive-again lives as a LIVING sacrifice.

The way to worship Him is not just to sing some songs to Him or shout “Praise the Lord,” but it is to LIVE a life that lays aside the things of this world and the cravings of our natural mammal flesh or our boastful pride of life. We don’t need that junk anymore.

We don’t have to have stuff for ourselves. We learn how to lay stuff down. And the more room we make for Him, the more He fills us. And the more He fills us the more we grow closer and closer to Jesus’ perfect 100 in our Christ-likeness and in our quality of Life in His character, His power, His Life, and His Love.

But if we don’t lay our stuff down, then we’ll just stay a 5. (Kinda like when Paul scolded the Corinthians for being a bunch of babies, even though they were saved.)

Let’s not be a bunch of babies.

Paul continued: “Don’t let the world shape who you are, but be dramatically changed by continually taking on Christ’s thoughts.

“Then you will be able to recognize the beautiful scent of God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.” (He’s telling them to shut off the noisy-radio-self thoughts and put on their Jesus-Glasses so that they can recognize God’s frowns or smiles.)

And he told them again about how God’s Family is meant to all work together — that Holy Spiriting each other every day that helps us each grow step by step closer to Jesus’ 100… He talked to them about how to live and love and teach and encourage and give and lead and have mercy… Hating what is evil, clinging to what is good. Being devoted to each other and really taking ACTION in their love.

What do you think all that had to do with living a Victorious life?

Well, as we turn off the noisy radio of self, we start finding we have lots of extra Free, Free, Free time to help others and change the world around us. Our lives become less and less time telling our brain, “Shhhh,” “no,” or “off” and more Glory-Filled Love for those around us. And that Love will change the world.

God will have a People who are walking in His Power, by His Spirit. And in the end, He’s going to grab the hands of His people of Faith, both Jews and Gentiles, and lift their hands up together as Victors in Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us!

All of creation is ready and watching and waiting. What about you? Are you watching and waiting and getting ready?

You better!